Analysis of dietary inflammatory potential and mortality in cancer survivors using NHANES data

Background: In the United States, cancer is a leading cause of mortality, with inflammation playing a crucial role in cancer progression and prognosis. Diet, with its capacity to modulate inflammatory responses, represents a potentially modifiable risk factor in cancer outcomes. Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2018) to investigate the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), which reflects dietary-induced inflammation, and mortality among cancer survivors. A total of 3,011 participants diagnosed with cancer were included, with DII scores derived from dietary recall data. All-cause and cancer-related mortalities served as primary endpoints. Results: The study identified a significant linear positive correlation between higher DII scores and all-cause mortality among cancer survivors. Each unit increase in DII was associated with a 10% higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-unit increase, 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.15). Similarly, a unit increase in DII was associated with a 13% higher risk of cancer-related mortality (HR per 1-unit increase, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.25). Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated higher all-cause mortality rates in individuals with elevated DII scores. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Conclusion: Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, characterized by lower DII scores, may improve survival outcomes in cancer survivors. These results emphasize the critical role of dietary interventions in post-cancer care.